‘Budding’ Entrepreneur and Florist Kirsty Berridge, is an award winner at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, Specialising with Wedding flowers, she would use the winning money to renovate her barn conversion premesis.
Outline your business and entrepreneurial skills, including your relative achievements to date in running a business:
Having been a florist now for 7 years. I completed my Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship in floristry. During my last year whilst working towards my Level 3 I got talent spotted by a national company, UK skills. I competed against a selection of other florists before securing my place in Squad UK. Becoming one of the top 3 young florists in the country which then led onto further training for 2 years across most of Europe. When I returned back from training and into full time work, the flower shop I’d been working in was closing down. I was offered a managing job at a flower shop down in London, before deciding it wasn’t for me. I missed home. I returned to Scarborough and decided to open my very own company…… Minnie Bee’s. Minnie Bee’s is an inspirational, young floristry design company specialising in Wedding flowers. Supplying exciting decorations and arrangements for large as well as small events. Floral design with a complete individual service, a high level of quality and of course professionalism. The enjoyment and pride I feel in my profession means that I always seek out exciting challenges. Since then I have gone on to compete at a wide selection of competitions at both national and international level. Including being second in the country at the Skills Show and also in the same year runner up for the BFA’s Young Florist of the Year. For the last two years. I have also qualified for the North East region to be a part of Young Florist of the Year down at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London. This year I was lucky enough to gain a RHS Silver Medal. My intention at Minnie Bee’s is to create bespoke and original pieces personalised to each individual. Flowers at a wedding are remembered by everyone and I’m delighted in making sure they are everything a bride wants and more. It’s important to get to know my brides, I take time to discuss their every need and make it an experience they can look back on and cherish forever. Choosing flowers that will compliment their personally and enhance their wedding theme. Flowers are the essence of a Wedding day; they express your style and personality.
Why do you have the ability to be an inspiring role model? Provide examples to illustrate:
I feel like I have the ability to be an inspiring role model because in my 7 years as a florist I’ve attained so much experience and training in a short space of time. I never planned to have my own company. I never even thought about being a florist. I was just a young girl from a small seaside town with no real idea on what I wanted to do with my life. When I left school at the age of 16 I went on to do my A-Levels at Sixth Form College next came that life changing decision of what to do next… I looked into studying fine art at different universities as well as fashion design. Before stumbling across the idea of floristry. Knowing nothing about it, I popped into my local flower shop and asked about what sort of qualifications were needed. By chance they were looking for a Saturday Girl. So that’s where my floristry career began. Sweeping floors and cleaning out buckets. l went on to enrol at an agricultural college onto a Floristry Apprenticeship. I worked in the flower shop whilst training at College. I still hold good links to the college that I did my Apprenticeships with. From time to time I have students over to help me with my weddings as well as help them with training in the floral industry. I do several talks, workshops and demonstrations at the college. I love to inspire other florists who are just starting out in their career, I think it’s important for them to realise that there is opportunity out there and sometimes it’s just finding the right routes to achieve it, I love what I do. As far as I am aware I have the best job in the world. I wake up everyday and look forward to going to work. I am so passionate about my industry. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What is your business / idea and what would you use the £5,000 towards if you were to win
My business is Minnie Bee’s Floral Design. An inspirational, young floristry design company, based in the North East of England and specialising in Weddings and Events. I have only been established for just under two years. I do between 20 to 30 weddings a year. Each one completely different from the last. Last year I moved into my very own Studio. It’s a very lovely converted barn with a vast workspace, set on the outskirts of Scarborough. If I were to win the £5,000 I would use it towards my business. The barn needs a new staircase so I can create an accessible stockroom upstairs. I would also love to get a van for the business. Now that we have hit Wedding Season again my workload has increased dramatically. It would be so much easier to be able to deliver weddings in one journey as appose to several small loads. And also get it sign written so it matches my little car. I am currently having my website redesigned as well as some new portfolio books done so it would be nice to put some money towards those. And finally if it could stretch to it, I would love to get a Minnie Bee’s sign for the entrance of the workshop.
